Multi-stack dispensing container



Dec. 8, 1964 1.. A. PRITCHARD MULTI-STACK DISPENSING CONTAINER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb; 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

455 JP 77m? Pk/fifl/Ea United States Patent 3,160,274 MULTii-STAQIKDEPENSING CGNTAINER Lee Arthur Pritchard, Easton, Pan, assignor toAmerican Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey FiledFeb. 6, H64, Ser. No. 3425218 Claims. (Cl. 205-56) In the past, nestedcomestible containers such as paper cups have been packaged and sold inelongated tubular cartons adapted to house a single stack of such cups.When :such cups were to be used infrequently, it was satisfactory toleave the cups in the closed carton and to remove the needed few at thetime of use. However, when such cups were to beconstantly used, such asin fountain service, soft drink concessions, and the like, it was tooinconvenient to continually remove a few cups at a time from the carton,and consequently, it became the practice to remove the whole stack ofcups from the elongated carton and to merely leave them exposed for easyaccess.

Such a practcie is not altogether satisfactory since the exposed cupsare subjected to dirt, dust and other contaminants which are undesirablein connection with comestible containers. Furthermore, if the stack ofcups is removed from the carton for purposes of dispensing, the cups areoften scufied, crushed or subjected to other various forms of abusewhich tend to ruin their appearance and, in extreme cases, theirutility.

It was recognized that certain of these problems could be avoided byproviding a carton from which a nested stack of cups could be directlydispensed. However, it was difiicult to provide such a carton since theheight of the stack of nested cups had to be quite high in order toprovide a suificient quantity in one single stack. If multiple stackswere utilized, theheight of each stack could be reduced, but as onestack was being utilized, the other stacks were exposed and tended togather dust and dirt.

An object therefore of the present invention is to provide a dispensingcarton wherein the aforementioned problems and difiiculties areeliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensingcarton for multiple stacks of articles wherein only one stack at a timeis exposed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stackdispensing carton which initially is completely closed but which can beopened to expose a single stack at a time for dispensing purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensingcontainer for multiple stacks of nested articles, which container can beopened to expose one complete stack of articles, and which canselectively expose each succeeding stack of articles without any furtheropening being needed.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

In the drawings: 7

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank from which a containerembodying the instant invention may be made;

- Patented Dec. 8, 1964 ICC FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sealedcontainer made from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2 with a portionremoved to permit dispensing of the nested articles within thecontainer;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 3 with the removedportion being nested back over the container to protect the nestedstacks of articles other than those being dispensed, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 except that the laststack of nested articles is being dispensed and the removed portion isutilized to prevent that stack from sliding back into the container.

The foregoing objects are attained by providing a container having aportion of its side panels, end panel, and top scored to permit theportion within the scored area to be removed. When the portion isremoved, it is generally U-shaped in cross-section, and of a sizesufiicient to expose one stack of nested articles to facilitatedispensing of the articles from this stack. The removed portion, insteadof being thrown away, is telescoped or nested back over the remainingcontainer portion with the end wall section of the removed portion beinginterposed between the stack to be dispensed and the remaining stackshoused within the container. In this Way, the removed portion acts as adust cover to protect the stacked articles within the container fromdust and dirt, while the exposed stack is being dispensed.

Although the illustrated container is designed to hold I only two stacksof nested articles, it should be understood that this simplification isonly for ease of illustration and understanding, and that the principlesof the present invention are applicable to containers holding multiplejuxtaposed stacks of nested articles.

The term score or score line as used herein is intended to comprehendany line of weakness, whether formed by perforating, cutting, scoring,or any other similar weakening operation.

' As a preferred or exemplary form of the present invention, FIG. 2illustrates a substantially [rectangular container 16 containing, forpurposes of illustration, two stacks 12 of nested articles such as papercups. The container is fabricated from a unitary blank, preferably ofpaper or fibre and of a rectangular configuration, such as the blank 14shown in FIG. 1.

The blank 14 is completely traversed by two spaced parallel fold orcrease lines 16 and 18, with the area. between the lines defining theheight of the container 10. Nominally, the line 16 corresponds to theupper edge of the container and the line 18 corresponds to the loweredge of the container. Appropriately spaced parallel fold lines 26, 22and 24- extend between the lines 16 and 18 to divide the blank into twoside panels 26 and 28 and two end panels 3-5} and 32. As illustrated,the lines 2d, 22 and 2d are spaced so that the side panels 26 and 28 aredouble the size of the end panels 30 and 32. A container formed fromthis particular blank will accommodate two juxtaposed stacks of nestedarticles, as shown in FIG. 1. If, however, it was desired to form acontainer which would accommodate four stacks of nested articles, theblank 14- would be elongated and the lines 20, 22 and 24 would be spacedso that the side panels 26 and 28 would be four times as wide as the endpanels 3%) and 32. Similarly, the side panels can be formed as any othermultiples of the end panels to thus accommodate multiple stacks ofarticles.

The top and bottom of the container Iii may be formed A to the panels26, 30, 2S and 32 along the top crease line 16. Similarly, bottom flaps48, 50, 52 and 54 are separated from each other by cut lines 56, 58 and60 and are hingedly connected respectively to the panels 26, 30, 28 and32 along the bottom crease line 18. A glue flap 62 is hingedly connectedto the side panel 26 by means of 1 crease or fold line 64'. A notch 66divides the glue lap into an upper section 68 and a lower section 70.

The blank 14 is suitably scored so that, when the con .ainer isassembled, a portion generally designated 72 (FIG. 3) may be removed topermit dispensing of a stack )f articles 12. To this end, the side panel26 and its issociated top flap 34 are traversed by a longitudinal lCOICline 74 which extends downward to a point opposite .he notch 66 in theglue flap and then extends transversely IS a score line 76 which mergesinto the notch. Similarly, he side panel 28 and its associated top flap38 are raversed by a longitudinal score line 78 which descends lownwardthe same distance as the score line 74 and then :xtends transversely orradially outwardly as a score line it! which extends across the endpanel 32 and terminates lt the outer edge thereof. As the score line 80traverses he end panel 32, it dips downward at 82 to form a de- Jressedportion, the purpose of which will be presently lescribed.

As was previously mentioned, the illustrated blank 14 :an be fabricatedto form a container which accommolates two juxtaposed stacks of nestedarticles. If the lld panels 26 and 28 are to be elongated to accommodate:everal stacks of nested articles, all such elongation is to ake placebetween the score lines 74 and 78, so that the :everable portion 72 willremain of one constant size.

In order to produce the container 16, the blank 14 s first folded alongthe parallel fold lines 20, 22 and 24 1nd the glue flap crease line 64.The outer surface of he glue flap 62 is coated with a suitable adhesiveand :ubsequently bonded to the inner surface of the end anel 32 to formthe blank into a rectangular configuraion. The four bottom flaps 48, 50,52 and 54 are then Folded along the bottom crease line 18 in the usualnanner and formed into an overlapping positionperpen licular to the sideand end panels 26. 28, 30 and 32, vhere they are adhesively secured toform the convenional bottom construction. The stacks 12 of nestedLI'tlClCS are then introduced into the container, and the op flaps 34,36, 38 and 49 are folded, overlapped and tdhesively secured similarly tothe bottom flaps, to thus eal the container and form a complete packageas shown nFIG. 2.

It can be'seen that the score lines 74, 76, 78 and 80 xtend over andaround one stack 12 of articles in such L manner as to define aseverable or removable portion '2, as shown in FIG. 3. When a consumerdesires to pen the package of FIG. 2, he merely manually punches awardalong the score lines 74, 76, 78, 8d and 82 .to thus ever the portion 72along these score lines and cause t to become detached from the packagethereby exposing ne stack 12 of articles for dispensing. However, it canlso be seen that removal of the portion 72 opens the :ontainer to suchan extent that the stack 12 remaining [1 the unsevered portion of thecontainer is partially xposed and can thus be contaminated'by dust anddirt;

To prevent such contamination from occurring, the emoved portion 72 isplaced over the remaining conainer portion in a manner such as isillustrated in FIG. It will be noted that the end wall part of portion72 JhiCh originally formed the end panel 32, is interposed etween thetwo stacks 12, and that part of portion 72' 1111011 comprises its sidewalls is overlapped over the ide panels 26 and 28 of the container.

When the exposed stack 12 has been completely disensed, the removableportion 72, which now serves as cover portion, is lifted'temporarilyaway from the ontainer 19 to'allow the second stack 12 to be slid orwardto a dispensing position. The cover 72 is then replaced, as shown inFIG. 5, to prevent the second stack 12 from sliding or tipping back intoits original position. If several stacks 12 are to be utilized, thecover 72 is merely lifted off each time a stack is to be moved forwardto a dispensing position, and thereafter the cover is replaced.

It should also be appreciated that the removable or cover portion 72 isgenerally U-shaped in cross-section and open at its lower end to form asort of squared scoop whose side walls have a certain degree ofresiliency. Thus, when the cover portion 72 is to be replaced or nestedover the remaining container portion, the cover portion side wallsdeform slightly outwardly to fit over the container side panels. Due tothis slight deformation, and the tendency of the cover side walls toreturn to their original position because of their inherent resiliency,the cover portion 72 will nest quite snugly over the container, and willnot readily slide about or drop off.

The removable portion 72 can also be reinstalled in its originalposition if the exposed stack 12 is not completely used up. For example,a stack 12 may be only partially utilized during a daily dispensingoperation and, rather than leave the remainder of that stack exposedovernight, the portion 72 can be moved back to its original position,thus protecting the partial stack 12 as well as the other remaining fullstacks. The thickness of the cartonstock is sufiicient to permit theportion 72 to rest upon and be supported by the carton edges contiguousto the score lines, should it become desirable to return the portion 72to its, original position.

In many instances, it may be desirable to remove the cups from theexposed stack by means of a cup holder, rather than removing themmanually. Often such a cup holder has a handle which extends beyond thecupreceiving opening, as exemplified by US. Design Patent No. 195,309. To assure that such a cup holder can be used in conjunction with thecarton of the present invention, the depressed portion 82 has beenprovided.

This depressed portion is designed to accommodate the handle ona cupholder and to thus permit such a cup holder to be utilized to removeeven the lowermost cups in a stack 12 without the handle abuttingagainst the small carton wall beneath the score line 80.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the pants without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the 'formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

'1. A multi-stack dispensing canton comprising:

7 a tubular rectangular container having a top and a bottom and beingadapted to house a row of juxtaposed stacks of nested articles;

said container having spaced opposed end panels having a transversedimension substantially equivalent to the width of a stack of nestedarticles to be dispensed and having a longitudinal dimensionsubstantially equivalent to the height of said stack;

said container also having spaced opposed side panels interconnectingsaid end panels and said container top and bottom;

said side panels having a longitudinal dimension equal to that of saidend panels and a transverse dimension substantially equivalent to thelength of said row of stacks;

said container also having a sevenable portion defined by a continuousscore line which extends transversely across one of said end panels andtransversely along said side panels to a distance approximately onestack width away from said end panel, then turns substantiallyperpendicularly upward to form a longitudinal score line section whichextends upward along each side panel and across the top of saidcontainer to join with the opposite longitudinal score line section;

said severable portion having an end wall formed by the score lineenclosed area of said container end panel, side walls formed by thescore line enclosed area of said container side panels, and a top wallformed by the score line enclosed area of said container top, saidseverable portion thus having a generally U-shaped cross-section; I

said severable portion being adapted to be manually separated from saidremaining container portion to thus expose a single stack at one end ofsaid container for dispensing purposes;

said severable portion also being adapted to be utilized as a cover bybeing telescoped over said remaining container portion with saidseverable portion end wall being interposed between said exposed stackand the next adjacent stack and said severable portion side walls beingoverlapped over said remaining container portion side panels.

2. A multi-stack dispensing cartonas defined in claim e; 1 wherein saidstacks of nested articles are formed of f inverted cups.

3. A dispensing container comprising: a rectangular carton adapted tocontain at least one row of aligned stacks of nested articles; saidcarton having a Width sutficient to encompass said row, a lengthsubstantially equal to the length of said row, and a heightsubstantially equal to the height of said row; said carton having aremovable corner portion set 0 by a continuous score line; saidcontinuous score line being formed by two inter secting score linesections; one of said score line sections extending transversely acrossone end of said carton and laterally along the sides of said cartonparallel to said row of stacks; the other of said score line sectionsextending transversely across the top of said carton and longitudinallyalong the sides of said carton at a location between the first andsecond stacks in said row; said corner portion being removable to exposethe first stack in said row for dispensing purposes; said corner portionalso being adapted to be interposed between said first and second stacksand nested over the remaining carton portion to serve as a cover toprotect the unexposed stacks from contamination.

4. A dispensing carton as defined in claim 3 wherein said one score linesection descends and rises again as it passes across said carton end;thus defining a tab in said end.

5. A package adapted to unitarily dispense a single stack of'nestedarticles out of an aligned row of said stacks, said package comprising:

a parallelepipedon container having spaced opposed and interconnectedside panels, end panels, a top and a bottom;

said side panels being spaced apart by a distance substantiallyequivalent to the width of said stacks;

said top and bottom being spaced apart by a distance substantiallyequivalent to the height of said stacks;

said end panels being spaced apart by a distance substantiallyequivalent to the length of said row of stacks;

a plurality of stacks of nested articles located within andsubstantially filling said container;

a removable portion being located at one end of said container;

6 said removable portion being defined by a continuous score line; saidcontinuous score line being formed of a pair of intersecting score linesections; one of said score line sections extending across the lower end0t one end panel and then along said side panels toward the other endpanel; the other of said score line sections extending across the top ata location corresponding to the space between said endmost stack and thenext adjacent stack, and then extending down said side panels to mergeinto the ends of said one score line section; said removable portionthus defining an end well formed by the severable portion of saidcontainer end panel, a top wall formed by the severable portion of saidcontainer top, and side Walls formed by the severable portion of saidcontainer side panels; said removable portion being manually severableto expose the endmost stack of articles in said row to permit dispensingof such articles; said removable portion being adapted to be telescopedover the unsevered portion of the container to protect the stackstherein from contamination; said telescoped position of said portionbeing one wherein said end wall is interposed between said exposed stackand the next adjacent stack, wherein said top wall overlies saidcontainer top, and wherein said side walls overlap said side panels. 6.A package as defined in claim 5 wherein the said nested articles in saidstacks are cups.

7. A unitary fibre blank foldable into a tubular dispensing container,said blank comprising:

a generally rectangular fibre web having a pair of spaced side edges, anupper edge, and a lower edge; a pair of lateral crease lines extendingparallel to said upper and lower edge and between said side edges, thespacing between said lateral crease lines defining the height of thecontainer to be subsequently formed; three spaced parallel longitudinalcrease lines extending perpendicularly between said lateral crease linesand thus dividing the blank into two side panels and two end panels; cutlines coextensive with said longitudinal crease lines and extendingbetween said lateral crease lines and the upper and lower edges of theblank to fiorm a series of flaps hingedly connected to said end and sidepanels and adapted to form the top and bottom of the container; and apair of continuous score lines, each extending longitudinally from theblank upper edge, through a side panel flap and into the side panelitself, and then turning perpendicularly outwardly and extendinglaterally to a side edge of the blank, said score lines defining aportion which can be removed from the subsequently formed container. 8.A blank as defined in claim 7 wherein said score lines turnperpendicularly outward at a point nearer tothe lower lateral creaseline than to the upper lateral crease line.

9. A blank as defined in claim 7 but further characterized by atwo-piece glue flap hingedly connected to a a side edge of the blankwith said laterally extending No references cited.

1. A MULTI-STACK DISPENSING CARTON COMPRISING: A TUBULAR RECTANGULARCONTAINER HAVING A TOP AND A BOTTOM AND BEING ADAPTED TO HOUSE A ROW OFJUXTAPOSED STACKS OF NESTED ARTICLES; SAID CONTAINER HAVING SPACEDOPPOSED END PANELS HAVING A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLYEQUIVALENT TO THE WIDTH OF A STACK OF NESTED ARTICLES TO BE DISPENSEDAND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO THEHEIGHT OF SAID STACK; SAID CONTAINER ALSO HAVING SPACED OPPOSED SIDEPANELS INTERCONNECTING SAID END PANELS AND SAID CONTAINER TOP ANDBOTTOM; SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING A LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION EQUAL TO THATOF SAID END PANELS AND A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENTTO THE LENGTH OF SAID ROW OF STACKS; SAID CONTAINER ALSO HAVING ASEVERABLE PORTION DEFINED BY A CONTINUOUS SCORE LINE WHICH EXTENDSTRANSVERSELY ACROSS ONE OF SAID END PANELS AND TRANSVERSELY ALONG SAIDSIDE PANELS TO A DISTANCE APPROXIMATELY ONE STACK WIDTH AWAY FROM SAIDEND PANEL, THEN TURNS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY UPWARD TO FORM ALONGITUDINAL SCORE LINE SECTION WHICH EXTENDS UPWARD ALONG EACH SIDEPANEL AND ACROSS THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER TO JOIN WITH THE OPPOSITELONGITUDINAL SCORE LINE SECTION; SAID SEVERABLE PORTION HAVING AN ENDWALL FORMED BY THE SCORE LINE ENCLOSED AREA OF SAID CONTAINER END PANEL,SIDE WALLS FORMED BY THE SCORE LINE ENCLOSED AREA OF SAID CONTAINER SIDEPANELS, AND A TOP WALL FORMED BY THE SCORE LINE ENCLOSED AREA OF SAIDCONTAINER TOP, SAID SEVERABLE PORTION THUS HAVING A GENERALLY U-SHAPEDCROSS-SECTION; SAID SEVERABLE PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLYSEPARATED FROM SAID REMAINING CONTAINER PORTION TO THUS EXPOSE A SINGLESTACK AT ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING PURPOSES; SAIDSEVERABLE PORTION ALSO BEING ADAPTED TO BE UTILIZED AS A COVER BY BEINGTELESCOPED OVER SAID REMAINING CONTAINER PORTION WITH SAID SEVERABLEPORTION END WALL BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID EXPOSED STACK AND THENEXT ADJACENT STACK AND SAID SEVERABLE PORTION SIDE WALLS BEINGOVERLAPPED OVER SAID REMAINING CONTAINER PORTION SIDE PANELS.